curious

That's one reason why you might gallop them on a race morning isn't it?

Yes. Agree. I've certainly seen horses gallop on race morning and done it myself on occasion.

Why would they do that?

Must have gone in the gates ok. Out of season now. One of the quietest trials I've ever seen after that! Nominated for Saturday I see. Hope they have her on regumate.

Indeed. Wouldn't be going at all if it were not to support the SI interest.

The family friendly ATR eh? Looks like my grand-daughter, wife and I will be at the pub supporting the owner of one of the SI runners and his family.

Is that a jump out rule specific to Riccarton?

Not sure quite what you mean but I think it's 90secs to load, races or trials.

I'd say there will be some anxious connections at the trials tomorrow.

EARS BACK (K Hercock) - Declared a late scratching at 4:11pm after refusing to load. Connections were advised that EARS BACK is required to barrier trial to the satisfaction of a Stipendiary Steward prior to racing next.

That's from 32 starts with never even a warning from the stipes about her barrier manners?

My understanding is (as in CW's comments above), that was because she was ridden at the jump outs by a stable track work rider and it was ruled she had to be ridden by a licensed jockey in order to receive a barrier certificate.

The problem I think, as has been mentioned, is that he has no financial resources to do so unless they immediately reduce stakes significantly. He possibly has an even larger problem looming in that there appears to be no plan B in the strategy for the likely event that the Entain deal will mean substantially reduced code distributions in 3 years unless they can pull a rabbit out of a hat.

I know you'll probably say it is just Wightman moaning again, but really, give me a break. He also knows that I am part owner of Ears Back a very capable 6yo mare that is being aimed at a Group 3 race this coming Saturday except that she’s on the barrier list after not entering the gates at her last start at Wingatui when in season (first time in her life). The trainer has tried valiantly this past few days to have her cleared for the race. Jump-outs last week were declined at the last minute as suitable because the mare didn’t have a race day rider on board. Off to Ashburton today to take part in an exhibition gallop by agreement of the club, a senior stipe and the barrier team .. an expensive float trip .. but sadly John Oatham decided at the last minute (when the mare arrived) that he would not allow the barriers to be used for the gallop which included a top Dunedin Guineas chance. He over-ruled everyone else who had earlier supported the trainers efforts. So here we are after 2 failed attempts to clear her to race (jump-outs & exhibition gallop), the trainer has to now take her to the trials at Ashburton on Tuesday to then back up again on the Saturday. In an industry where we battle to recover our costs. In an industry where we all try to help and respect others around us (RIU staff, other trainers, riders .. and other owners) .. isn’t it sad when someone like John Oatham can’t be more helpful???? Be more sympathetic and show greater empathy for those in the game??!?

Again to cite Messara, "these prizemoney increases can apply following the full implementation of the reforms". What do they do? Use the money, not to implement the reforms which he thought would generate the revenue to double stakes, but spend that money immediately on stakes, even taking some of the money in advance to do so more hastily.

Exactly. To quote Messara directly "New Zealand does not have one track with a high-quality racing surface." All they have done, is closed many that had better surfaces than those that remain and spent nothing fixing the latter. That expenditure and work was supposed to be completed by now.

Correction. The above should have read $190m and $220m

Exactly my point! And then there would be another 250k to fix the tracks, and it might generate enough revenue to pay for the stakes.

I agree too. If you read the Messara report, he recommended that along with the track closures over 6 years, that NZTR needed to spend $90 million on upgrading the remaining tracks during that time. That's probably $120 million now with increased costs. They got a slush of money from the Entain deal but there is still no sign of anything like the necessary investment, and that additional funding for the remainder of the guarantee period is now all committed to stakes.

You definitely can't if they've moved the rail out in the way.

And fwiw, Google agrees with me. A larger radius results in a smaller curve to straight radius angle, and vice versa

Would they know? To me, if I ride a gallop on the rail, the curve to straight angle is greater, whereas if the markers are on the outside, the turn is tighter. Or is that my imagination? If true though, then moving the rail out will always make the corner more difficult to negotiate, so why would you do that if the turn and rail position was correctly designed in the first place?

My geometry isn't flash. Does moving a rail out on a corner tighten the angle into the straight if it is moved out equidistant all the way round?

What? The stipes interview every individual jockey?

An R65?